Regular eye check-ups are necessary for detecting Macular Degeneration

Macular Degeneration or age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness and severe vision loss in Australia.

One in seven people over the age of 50 are affected by the disease and the incidence increases with age and is often called Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

MD refers to a group of degenerative diseases of the retina that cause progressive, painless loss of central vision, affecting the ability to see fine detail, drive, read and recognise faces.

In some cases, AMD advances so slowly that people don't notice the change in their vision. For others, the disease progresses faster and may lead to a loss of vision in both eyes.

Treatment can slow vision loss, however, it does not restore vision.

Regular comprehensive eye check-ups can detect macular degeneration before the disease causes vision loss.